In the realm of Earth’s history, a compelling correlation has emerged; a noteworthy connection between extended periods of climate stability and the ancient Mesoamerican concept of the “Five Suns.” This raises intriguing questions about the potential existence of advanced human societies during previous interglacial periods.
The Mesoamerican “Five Suns” is a significant cosmological concept found in the mythology of ancient civilizations like the Aztecs and the Mayans. It describes a series of five distinct cosmic eras or worlds, each associated with a unique creation and destruction event. According to this belief, humanity currently inhabits the fifth sun, the era of “4 Movement.” The previous four suns were destroyed by various cataclysms, such as floods and fires.
Five main interglacial periods have played crucial roles in shaping our planet’s climate and ecosystems. The first, the Holocene, began around 11,700 years ago (post Younger Dryas) and continues to the present day, providing the backdrop for our current civilization’s rise. Before the Holocene, the Eemian interglacial (130,000 to 115,000 years ago) witnessed higher sea levels and temperatures similar to today’s. The previous interglacial, known as the Ipswichian (or Sangamonian) (135,000 to 115,000 years ago), saw a diverse megafauna. Prior to that, the Yarmouthian (or Riss-Würm interglacial) (200,000 to 130,000 years ago) featured warmer conditions than the subsequent glacial period. The oldest interglacial in this series, the Holsteinian (or Mindel-Riss) was from 420,000 to 340,000 years ago.
“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”
Carl Sagan
The Synchronicity of Cycles
Throughout Earth’s long history, our planet’s climate has exhibited recurring shifts, transitioning between interglacial periods of relative warmth and glacial epochs characterized by colder temperatures. Mainstream scientific understanding attributes these fluctuations to variations in Earth’s orbital parameters. These Milankovitch cycles, named after Serbian mathematician and astronomer Milutin Milanković, refer to predictable variations in Earth’s orbit and axial tilt that influence its climate.
The stories alluded to in the Mesoamerican traditions of cycles of destruction and re-birth (Five Suns) provides an intriguing correlation between oral tradition, carefully constructed celestial calendars and the cyclical interglacial periods, furthering the idea that human civilisation could have been in an advanced state of society prior to our own. Recent archaeological discoveries contribute to this idea, such as the remarkable preservation of half-million-year-old wood at Kalambo Falls. The presence of advanced woodworking skills implied by these finds challenges the conventional timeline of human development, raising the possibility of human societies thriving amid climatic shifts.
Existing evidence shows us that anatomically identical homo sapiens have been around on Earth for at least 300,000 years. This is within the timeline of the five major interglacial periods that align with the five Mesoamerican epochs. Given that human beings, in the space of a few hundred years have progressed from steam engines to spaceflight it is not a leap of assumption to suppose that humans have been in a state of advanced society previous to our own.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its reason for existence.”
Albert Einstein
Echoes from the Past
While the alternative perspective challenges conventional wisdom, skepticism plays a vital role in the pursuit of knowledge. Critical examination encourages a rigorous approach to interpreting historical and geological data, urging us to avoid selective interpretations. Skeptics prompt us to maintain a cautious stance and demand empirical evidence and rigorous scientific scrutiny.
The 1911 discovery of the Clacton Spear, a 400,000-year-old wooden artifact, hinted at the capabilities of early humans. Recent findings, including ancient wood structures, continue to fuel discussions between mainstream archaeology and alternative historical viewpoints. Skeptics raise essential questions, prompting us to scrutinize whether these discoveries genuinely indicate advanced ancient civilizations or represent intriguing anomalies in the broader narrative of human development.
Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site in Turkey, dating back over 11,000 years, predates the advent of agriculture and challenges conventional wisdom regarding the development of complex societies. Its intricately carved stone pillars, adorned with animal motifs, suggest a level of artistry and organization previously unattributed to hunter-gatherer communities. This site prompts us to rethink the timeline of human civilization, inspiring fresh perspectives on the emergence of agriculture, religion, and communal living. It also begs the question of how such a sophisticated society apparently sprung from nowhere to complex societal structure, including megalithic construction, in such a short time period since the last glacial era.
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”
Carl Sagan
Unlocking Ancient Secrets
Despite the presence of skeptics, the alignment between Earth’s climate patterns, mild interglacial periods, evidence of previously unknown human ability and the Mesoamerican “Five Suns” asks us to question our preexisting beliefs. It encourages us to open our minds to the possibility that ancient civilizations possessed profound insights into cosmic and climatic cycles and that previous advanced societies have thrived on Earth over several hundred thousand years.
As new discoveries continue to be made, it pushes back on our understanding of the timeline of human beings on Earth. One thing remains clear: the search for ancient wisdom and hidden narratives is a journey that sparks our imagination and drives us to explore the depths of our shared history.
“The progress of science is the discovery at each step of a new order which gives unity to what had seemed unlikely.”
Jacob Bronowski